The Sicatoka

All the regional US Highway 2 schools make the tournament ... and Bemidji's the one going to DC. Whodathunk.

So who's at the Frozen Four from the west? Let's see ... Miami, which plays in the CCHA, which plays strict enforcement of rules against obstruction, meaning speed and skating are valued, and Bemidji State, which plays in the CHA, and which plays a speed and skating game. Are you listening Greg Shepherd? Are you listening Bruce McLeod?

Air Force joined Atlantic Hockey. The CHA has four right now: Robert Morris and Niagara are also going Atlantic Hockey (that'll make 12 there). Bemidji and Alabama-Huntsville are the odd-men out of CHA. If Bemidji went WCHA that'd make 11, an unworkable number. However, if Bemidji joined and Northern Michigan came back to the WCHA (to make 12) maybe UAH could get into the CCHA to restore them to 12. Don't expect UN-Omaha to move. Publicly at least they're pretty steadfast in their desire to stay in the CCHA.

The weather: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf/ The rivers: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=fgf

The best hope for a fresh start is pointing out that the WCHA has only shown up in recent Frozen Fours by playing speed, not obstruction.

Never truer words typed.

Since I'm on a good rant, indulge me. Can Gwozdecky coach offense? Can Eades? Can anyone anymore? Where have the skilled offensive players gone. I ask because I see teams with awesome ability to make a sweep-check, chase the puck to the corner, put it in skates, find an opening, and then give up possession by going high off the glass even when down a goal or two. I saw what Miami did to Denver. Miami wanted the puck on their stick, both in the attack and defensive zones. Miami seldom willingly gave up possession of the puck. Denver wanted to dump it in, apply nominal pressure, and then hope to pick off a pass or some other miscue and use that to spur an odd-man (1-on-0 or 2-on-1). Same for Duluth. And that's Wisconsin's game. Heck, that's most of the WCHA's game: no possession, counter-punch, trap. That game requires guys with long reaches and average skating skill. It doesn't even require much ability to make a decent pass (because the glass is a big target. Teaching a sweep-check is a nothing skill to teach. Teaching guys to stand in skating and shooting lanes is easy. And I'm sure it keeps coaches in jobs (by keeping scores low, as long as the guys are allowed to obstruct along with it). Now ask yourself: From dead-center between the dots, how many guys in this league can snap a backhander into a top opening on a corner board more than 50% of the time? Heck, how many guys can get a low shot (snap, wrist, or slap) through traffic on net? How many can use the boards to make a head-man pass to themselves (and not end up icing it instead)? The trap is a bane and a pox upon hockey because it devalues offensive skills. And any ol' fool can teach trap skills to any group of reasonable skaters. Who's teaching guys the fundamental offensive skills anymore?

Smaller and quicker is what the Sioux will be. The benefits of that will be defined by how the WCHA brass views the following: In this year's NCAA tournament the AHA (Air Force) got as many tournament wins as the WCHA. In this year's NCAA tournament the CHA (Bemidji State) got as many tournament wins as the WCHA. In this year's NCAA tournament the CHA (Bemidji State) got MORE tournament wins THAN the WCHA. That is bloody embarrassing. The WCHA Administration (head office and officiating) needs to raise its "game" to the level of the talent playing the game in the league. I'm quite sure that the NCAA Rule Committee has taken notice of the WCHA's hijinx this year (wandering coaches, mysterious suspensions) as well as the WCHA's total lack of commitment to enforce the rules against obstruction and holding and checking from behind. The WCHA needs to start officiating like the rest of college hockey or else these trends (nobody left to go to the Frozen Four) will only continue. Let's look at this from another angle: Would you rather play with a cadaver in a Mankato jersey on your back and risk the injuries from guys like Trevor Bruess or would you rather play in a league where obstruction and checking from behind is called. Look at the Michigan/MSU situation this year. The CCHA, not Michigan State, suspended those fools. But who suspended the dashing dasher dancing monkey? DU. Who suspended Trevor Bruess? MSU-Mankato. No wonder talent is bolting for leagues (pro and college) where they can showcase it because they can't depend on the league to set a standard of conduct and play and maintain it. Commissioner McLeod's contract is up for renewal. I'm sure it's on the April meetings agenda. Quit manufacturing parity (by not calling obstruction). I say it's time for sunshine and a fresh start. Show me the speed game. Show me hockey.

I just finished reading the list of hidden injuries this team was playing through and it begs the question: How many happened because of lack of enforcement (by league officials) of the points of emphasis?

Jackie Parker's retirement party gift?

If that's the real BU everyone else should be real scared.

Sure to lose (8): G: Walski D: Finley, Jones, Miller F: Duncan, Watkins, Martens, Kozek Maybe ... F: Vande Velde D: Genoway Open question: D: LaPoint (hey, it's a nasty injury) What we think we know (7): G: Dell D: MacWilliam, Gleason F: Bruneteau, Kristo, Cichy, Forney I look at Kangas and Bachman in sophomore seasons and say Dell is a wise move. What I'm concerned about is the defense. We haven't seen Fienhage in quite a while and practice just isn't game time. Also, I'm concerned about LaPoint and if his recovery and rehab doesn't have him ready for fall. My whackiest thought of the day, and you have to add all the following to reach it: - We seem better stocked at potential "early bring in" forwards (Rowney, Fink, Knight, Dan Mattson). - Brad Miller always seemed short of time and space at forward and wasn't all that physical as a forward. - That description of Miller seems to also fit ... David Toews. - Defensive depth could be a question given next year's youth at D (1 Sr, 2 Jr, 1 Soph w/time, 1 Soph with little). I wonder if David Toews would like to attend the "Brad Miller Summer School of Moving to Defense"? That would do many things, like give an eighth potential defenseman, give Toews more time and space, and make me a genius for coming up with it. EDIT: I just came from reading Brad's blog about all the hidden injuries. Hak's been running a 25-man roster the last couple of seasons. With three goalies that's 22 skaters. That's not a lot of margin to allow guys to heal properly. How about a year with a Dean Blais 15F-8D-3G 26-man roster, eh? A full fifth line and a full fourth pair at D would be nice.

Folks, here's the solution key. It's harsh, but there it is. And I'm yet to see a game in this tourney where the standards change late, ala "color codes". Kudos to the NCAA officiating*; a pox on McLeod and Shepherd for not having their teams well prepared for it. Jason Gregoire is amazing w/o a cadaver in an opposing jersey strapped to his back. Too bad we only got to see it for one game this year. Thanks for that Bruce and Greg. * And y'all know me. I'd rather see the NCAA in its coffin with a wooden stake in its heart.

Allow a contrarian point of view for a second (even though I don't believe it myself): Uniforms without a Sioux logo/moniker on them are acceptable at NCAA tournament venues.

Read the story: In the state legislature would affect all state institutions. What's insideous about how that's written is bolded below: "Indirectly" would mean student (or team) support services, not just direct scholarships. The word you all are looking for is 'xenophobia'.

My analysis of this? Unaffected by this: Gopher mens hockey Gopher womens hockey Hurt by this: SCSU womens hockey MSUM womens hockey BSU womens hockey Crushed by this: BSU mens hockey UMD mens hockey SCSU mens hockey MSUM mens hockey UMD womens hockey

Slacker path to get into the NCAA MBB tourney: You need to be in an 8 team conference, go 0-for-season, and then win 3 conference tourney games. Slacker path to get to the NCAA Mens Ice Hockey tournament from the WCHA: You need to go 0-for season (Michigan Tech gave 'er a run this year), win a 2-of-3 series against the top team in the league (in their arena), and then win 3 games (Thursday play-in, semi-final, final) at the Final Five. NOTE: No team playing in the play-in game has won the WCHA Final Five to date. Which would you rather bank on? And as far as "seem like reputation and fan base are as important as anything in making the ncaa tournament in hockey" [sic], you really need to get educated on the hockey selection process, specifically the Pairwise Ranking Process in there. There are no dark, cigar-smoke filled rooms like in other selection processes, specificallly, how are the SDSU women seeded so low relative to polls/rankings? Herd, you disappoint me. You're really that insecure about NDSU's accomplishment that you feel the need to denegrate the achievements of others?

What's more fun: a) staying home because class is cancelled b) cuttin' class UND just knows how to have more fun.

What a night: UND wins #14 (and leaves Bucky Badger at 29 points) Minnesota comes back from 3 down at Tech only to lose in OT and hold at 27 points Anchorage goes in to Duluth and holds the 'dogs at 27 points The Purple Cows move to 25 points by hammering the Huskies (who got DU last weekend) to hold SCSU at 27 points CC (30 points) is happy right now because the losses by the Gophers, Bulldogs, and SCSU (27 each) got them home ice!

Mercy. What a nightmare scenario. It could look something like ...

The Official Colors: However, did you know ...

Is the team back in Grand Forks, no, let me be more specific .... Is the team away from that &%$#@! volcano yet? A little birdie told me UND AD Faison had stated to Fargo Sioux Boosters that the WCHA office had no contingency plans in the event of an eruption postponing games or trapping a team (or teams) in Anchorage. I guess he didn't seem real impressed with the league or its leadership on that subject. Let me guess: If something happened the schools would decide and the league office would rubber-stamp it.

Let's see ... - a checking from behind (called as boarding) on Gregoire - a kneeing on Genoway - a slew foot on LaPoint that ends his season and he gets one game. One. That's maximizing your value because that's the same penalty Mullen of DU got for a slash at UMD. Think it can't get any worse? Wrong. One non-conference game. He is great. He truly saves.

Folks, the press release has the answers. So read it. Now, those of you with Midcontinent Cable: Spam them asking for them to put it on the entire FSSN. If they can do it for the Grand Forks region, why not the entire FSSN. http://www.midcocomm.com and click "Contact Us" in the upper right.